Draft gear



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Patented Apr. 19, 1927.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE;

WALTER H. COTTON, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO UNION DRAFT GEARCOM- PANY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE.

DRAFT GEAR.

Application filed December 19, 19-23.

The invention relates to draft gear for railway cars of the frictiontype; its object being to secure, in connection with high efficiency,simplicity of construction and assembly.

The improved gear consists of a structure such as is hereinafterdescribed and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. 1is a central plan section of the gear, details of associated parts ofthe car being shown partly in section and partly in plan;

Fig. 2 is a detail plan view, partly in section, the gear being shownunder com pression;

Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the gear, some parts being shown insection and details of portions of the car structure being represented;

Figs. 4 and 5 are perspective views of certain elements of the gear; and

Fig. 6 is a sectional view on the line G-(5 of Fig. 5.

The gear is adapted for use in connect-ion with the usual draft sillarrangement, and with any desired form of coupler and coupler extension.There is shown in the drawings a pair of draft sills at 10; a pair ofdraft lugs at 11, 12; a pair of buffing lugs at 13, 1.4; a coupler buttat 15, and a coupler yoke or extension at 16.

The gear comprises a pair of followers 17, 18, for engagement,respectively, with the draft and buffing lugs, the inner face of each ofthese followers being wedge-shape, as shown at 19, 20. In order to makethe followers as light as possible they are preferably cast hollow, asshown, internal stiffening or strengthening ribs being provided, as maybe necessary.

Cooperating with the inclined faces of each of the followers is a .pairof wedge-blocks 21, 22, and 23, 2 1, each pair being threaded u on a rod25, 26, extending transversely t rough the gear and through suitableapertures in the sills 10. Interposed between these two pairs ofwedge-blocks is a pair of triangular wedge and friction blocks 27, 28.Mounted upon the end portions of the rods 25, 26, outside of the sills,are helical springs, as 29, which react between nuts, as 30, applied tothe outer ends of the rods, and thimbles, as 31, interposed between thesprings and the wedge-blocks, as 22.

Serial- No. 681,502..

Under compressive movement of either of the followers the wedgeblocks 21to are forced outwardly against the resistance of integral therewith, isa pair of plates 83, i

34, which serve to support and guide the several interposed wedge-blocksand also form stops for limiting the compression movement. The webs 32serve the further purpose of stiffening the plates 33, 3 1, andpreventing them from being buckled under extreme shocks.

Friction is developed between the engaging wedging faces of the severalelements and also between the wedges 27, 28, and the webs 32, theintensity of this friction being determined by the strengthof thesprings employed on the rods 25, 26.

Release of the gear occurs promptly upon the relief of the stresseswhich have caused compression, the wedge-blocks 21 to 21 being forcedinwardly by the springs.

I claim as my invention:

1. A draft gear comprising a pair of followers each having wedging facesand an inwardly projecting web, a pair of outwardly moving wedge-blocksassociated with each follower, a rod extending centrally through each ofsaidpa-irs of wedge-blocks, springs mounted upon such rods for urgingthe wedge-blocks inwardly, and a pair of triangular wedge-blocksinterposed between the two first-named pairs of wedge-blocks, the innerfaces thereof frictionally engaging the named webs of the followers.

2. In a draft gear, in combination, two relatively movable followers,each having a forwardly projecting central vertical plate, such platesconstituting stops for limiting the compression of the gear, frictionelements slidably engaging the sides of such plates for resisting therelative approach of the followers and spring means for holding suchparts in engagement.

3. In a draft gear, in combination, two relatively movable followers,each having a forwardly projecting central vertical plate, such platesconstituting stops for limiting the compression of the gear, frictionelements resisting the relative approach of the followers and havingfrictional engagement with the plates and spring means acting on suchfriction elements.

4. In a draft gear, in combination, a pair of wedging followers, eachhaving a plate extending forwardly from the apex of its wedging face,wedging and friction elements cooperating with and reacting against thewedging faces and the plates of the followers and spring means foradvancing such wedging and friction elements.

A draft gear comprising, in combination, a pair of relatively movablefollowers, each having forwardly projecting cover and supporting platesand a central web connecting such plates, friction elements engaging theside faces of such webs, and spring means for holding the parts infrictional en 20 gagement.

